The search for Hedefin(e)

[hedefine]

James Hedefin(e), b. c1810 in Bangor County Down Ireland. He married Eliza Brannan, c1844 in Ireland, b. c1825 in Bangor County Down Ireland, d. 2nd quarter 1876 in South Shields Durham UK. James died Dec 17 1887 in South Shields, Durham UK.

In 1829 at age 18 James enlisted in the British Army, in the 36th regiment of Foot as a musician and served for a total of 21 Years, 8 of which were in the West Indies and 3 in North America.
In about 1844 probably in Ireland he married Eliza she age 18 and between 1845 and 1864, 10 children were born. Upon discharge from the army in 1850 the couple settled in Newcastle Upon Tyne, he became a railway signalman. During his army service 3 children were born Mary Ann in Ireland, Edward in the Isle of Man, and James in Portsmouth. The remaining 7 were born in Newcastle Tyneside area. James died in Westoe, South Shields in 1887 at age 76. The records suggest the Hedefine Family were members of the established Protestant Church

The majority of James descendants have been traced to present day, with a few exceptions and a number of unconnected names. ( ie; a Veronica & a Civil War, Robert) Todate we have 154 families with 425+ family members.
His army history is a result of obtaining records of his army service.
We are hitting a wall.
Any thoughts or sugestions.

Tom Hedefine
Toronto Canada

[Raffaele]

This looks like your couple

Deaths Jun 1876
Hedefine Eliza 51 S. Shields 10a 364
Deaths Dec 1887
Hedefine James 79 S. Shields 10a 410

And the children born in England

Births Sep 1848
Hedefin James Portsea I 7 150
Births Mar 1851
Hedefin Eliza Newcastle T 25 416
Births Dec 1852
Hedefin Robert Newcastle upon Tyne 10b 2
Births Dec 1854
Hedefin Margaret Jane Newcastle T. 10b 23
Births Jun 1858
Hedefin Thomas S. Shields 10a 484
Births Sep 1862
HEDEFIN Isabella S Shields 10a 495
Births Jun 1864
HEDEFIN Sarah Ellen South Shields 10a 558

You can buy any one of the Birth Certificates and it will get you the mothers Maiden name and where they lived at that time.

The information above is sourced from the general records office which covers Engalnd and Wales only. Ireland has its own records office and you need to look at specialist areas to find out more. The amount of information is far more limited particularly as Ireland was partitioned about 1920 and became two countries.